• Legislature is in overtime

• Renewable energy siting

• Eminent Domain legislation

• Funding for water sensors

Learn about Our Environment

• Sierra Club Asks IUC to Revoke Summit’s Permit

• Outdoor Experiences - see upcoming outings

• Annual Meeting Sept. 26, 2026, Newton Arboretum, Newton, Iowa - Save the date

• Lunch and Learns Fridays at noon

Plus

• Contribute to the Iowa Chapter

• Volunteer for the Iowa Chapter

• Calendar of events

• To see the archive of previous Iowa Chapter newsletters

Sierra Club Asks IUC to Revoke Summit’s Permit

Late last year, Summit filed numerous requests for changes with the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) and Polk County District Court.  This was an effort to change the rules in the middle of the game because Summit’s original plan to sequester CO2 in North Dakota was no longer viable. 

Summit asked the IUC to remove the permit conditions that they could not meet, to consolidate all their dockets, and to fast track the whole process.

After months of legal back and forths, the IUC requested interested parties to provide input on how the Utilities Commission should handle Summit’s requested changes.

Sierra Club filed a powerful response outlining why the IUC should deny Summit’s request for amendments, consolidation, and fast tracking.  Sierra Club also made a strong recommendation that IUC revoke Summit’s Phase 1 permit. If Summit can’t meet the conditions of their Phase 1 permit without significant changes, they should start over. 

Now we wait for the Iowa Utilities Commission to make a decision. We’ll keep you updated as things progress.

You can read Sierra Club’s filing here. 

Tune into our Lunch and Learn on Friday, May 1 at 12pm CT on our Facebook Page to hear more about what Summit requested and what we think should happen.  If you missed the live-stream lunch and learn, no problem, find it on our YouTube

Legislature is in Overtime

The legislature was scheduled to adjourn on April 21, but is continuing a few days beyond that.  The Sierra Club will continue to lobby for those bills we support and will oppose bills that we do not support.

Renewable energy siting

The legislature is considering a law that would create state-wide standards for siting renewable energy projects.  Counties and cities would still review each siting project and would allow public input as part of the decision.  Counties would benefit from the taxes that the projects generate.  Landowners who choose to lease their land for renewable energy projects would benefit from the income they make from leasing their land for the projects.  This bill is ready to be debated on the House floor.  Ask your state representative to support HF2580 without amendment (formerly HSB692).  To look up your House member, see Iowa Legislature - Representatives , www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/house , or to Find your legislator

Carbon pipeline legislation

The Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh is refusing to bring HF2104, a bill to protect Iowans from carbon pipelines, up for a vote.  We believe that if the bill were brought up today, it would pass. 

Eleven Senators introduced a compromise amendment (S-5190) to HF2104 that includes the original language from HF2104 and a few things that Senator Klimesh wants. 

At the beginning of the session, Senator Klimesh promised that after 5 years, property rights and carbon pipelines would be a priority this session.  Let’s make sure Senator Klimesh keeps his word.  Please write to your Senator and Senator Klimesh and ask them to bring up and vote on HF2104 with amendment S-5190. 

1. Ask Senator Mike Klimesh to bring HF2014 with amendment S-5190 to the floor and to vote in support of the bill, stopping the ability for carbon pipeline companies from using eminent domain on carbon oxide pipelines.  His email address is mike.klimesh@legis.iowa.gov

2. Ask your Iowa Senator to support HF2014 with amendment S-5190, stopping the ability for carbon pipeline companies from using eminent domain on carbon oxide pipelines.   

To look up your Senate member, see www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/senate    

To find your legislators, see www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find

Although the amendment is not the bill that we would write if we were in charge, it is a reasonable compromise. This points to the importance of elections to make sure we have a legislature that works on behalf of Iowans, not big business and the wealthy. 

Funding for water sensors

Iowans want to see improvements in Iowa's water quality - fewer beaches contaminated with E coli and microcystin toxins, fewer waters impaired with pollutants, and fewer incidents of large releases of manure and other pollutants into our water bodies.  Unfortunately, without legislative support, the water sensor network, 60 sensors that measure nitrate and nitrite pollution in Iowa's waterbodies, will go silent.  We cannot address water quality problems if we don't measure the pollution in the water; plus we won't know if we are making progress in improving water quality if we don't measure the changes in pollution levels.  The sensor network is important in real-time continuous monitoring of pollution levels.

Ask your legislators to support funding Iowa's water sensor network.  There are 4 asks to maintain and improve the continuous water sensor network:

1. a one-time appropriation of $500,000 to upgrade and repair the monitoring equipment, which is 15 years old

2. $600,000 on-going annual support for the sensor network

3. by increasing the annual support for the sensor network to $1,000,000, additional pollutants could be measured 

4. the funds should be appropriated to IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering at the University of Iowa 

To look up your House member, see www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/house   

To look up your Senate member, see www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/senate    

To find your legislators, see www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find

Outdoor Experiences

We have several outdoor events planned for this spring.  We hope you can join us.

May 16, 9:30 am, Whitewater Canyon, Cascade, Iowa - Join us for a guided morning hike at Whitewater Canyon on Saturday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m., exploring 3 to 4 miles of scenic, steep mowed paths with a naturalist leading the way. This stunning 562-acre area just east of Cascade features dramatic 200-foot cliffs, overlooks, and the breathtaking Valley of 13 Caves, carpooling is encouraged, and an optional lunch will follow the hike. Sign up here

June 13, 10:00am to 2:00pm, Fishing Outing and More, Stuart, Iowa - Ready for an easy‑going outdoor adventure the whole family will love? Join Sierra Club Iowa Chapter for a fun‑filled afternoon of nature activities!  Check out the details and sign up

June 20, 9:00 am, Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Start your morning outdoors with a relaxed, naturalist-led hike through the trails at Indian Creek Nature Center, where you’ll discover local plants and wildlife and learn how the ecosystem changes with the seasons. This welcoming, all-ages walk takes place Saturday, June 20 at 9:00 AM (5300 Otis Rd SE, Cedar Rapids) and costs $5 per person, payable at the door or online. Sign up for this event

Annual Meeting Sept. 26, 2026

Save the date.  The Iowa Chapter annual meeting will be on September 26, 2026, at the Newton Arboretum in Newton, Iowa.  We will have an exciting program of speakers plus a guided tour of the arboretum.  We plan to have an excellent meal, prepared by a local caterer. 

We'll see you in Newton on Saturday, September 26, 2026!

Lunch and Learns Fridays at noon

Fridays at noon, we do a Lunch and Learn livestream.  See us on Facebook at "Sierra Club Iowa Chapter".  These are recorded so you can watch them anytime.  Topics will be selected based on what is happening during the week.  During the legislative session, we cover issues coming before the Iowa legislature.

In case you missed our past webinars and lunch and learn sessions, you can still see them on our YouTube.  

• Carbon Pipeline Legislative Update, April 24, 2026
• Winding Down: the end of the 2026 legislative session, April 17, 2026
• Natures Best Hope - Book Discussion Recording, March 25, 2026

Volunteer for the Iowa Chapter

Almost everything we do is done by volunteers like you.  If you would like to volunteer for the Iowa Chapter, please let us know by sending an E-mail to Iowa.chapter@sierraclub.org.  Or sign up by using the online form.  There are many opportunities for you to make a difference:

• making phone calls

• developing graphics for banners and flyers

• working on legislative issues

• working on elections

• fundraising

• organizing events

• joining an issue committee 

If you would like to join our legislative action team, sign up here.  Keep on top of what is happening at the Iowa legislature.  Be alerted when you should contact your legislators about pending legislation.

Photo: camping by Jess Mazour.

Sierra Club - working every day on Iowa’s environmental problems

Sierra Club is Iowa’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization.  Not only that, we are the best bet in the state for achieving bold solutions to Iowa’s environmental problems.

We work in the courts, before Iowa’s public agencies, and in the halls of the legislature.  The Iowa Chapter's effort to protect the environment takes financial support.  The Chapter receives very little financial support from the national Sierra Club.  Can we count on you for a donation to ensure even more victories?  Your contribution will be put to work here in Iowa on issues that affect every day Iowans – water quality, clean air, protection of Iowa's soil, parks and natural areas, and a strong democracy.  The Iowa Chapter is relentless in fighting back bad legislation that affects every one of us. 

Your non-deductible contributions make it possible for us to fight bad legislation and to promote good legislation.  We appreciate your past and on-going support of these efforts.  You can make a non-deductible donation with a credit card.   A non-deductible donation supports the Chapter's effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying programs.  If you prefer, a non-deductible check can be written to the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter and mailed to:

Treasurer
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
PO Box 1058
Marion, IA 52302

You can also make a tax-deductible donation with a credit card.  Tax-deductible activities are limited to public interest education, research and legal actions.  A deductible check can be written to the Sierra Club Foundation with “Iowa Chapter” written in the memo line.

Thank you for your support.

Donate your used vehicle

As the Sierra Club Foundation's Iowa Chapter continues to raise charitable funds to support its work in Iowa, won’t you consider participating in our vehicle donation program?  Our partners over at CARS have made the process of donating your unused or unneeded car, truck, motorcycle, boat or RV easy, efficient and secure.  They’ll take care of everything from picking up your vehicle to sending you a tax receipt for your generous gift.  To learn more about The Sierra Club Foundation's Iowa Chapter vehicle donation program, please call 844-674-3772.  Or visit our webpage to get started today!

Sierra Club Foundation promotes climate solutions, conservation, and movement building through a powerful combination of strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy. The Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of Sierra Club’s charitable environmental programs.

For more information 

Planned giving . . . naming the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter in your will 

Ensure your environmental legacy by naming the Iowa Chapter in your will or trust. These gifts cost you nothing now. You can hold onto your assets for as long as you need them.

Thank you for supporting our work!

Resources for Planning for the Future

The Iowa Chapter has three resources to assist you in planning for the future - one pagers about giving via Donor Advised Funds, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, and planned gifts. 

The flyer Donor Advised Funds (aka DAF) covers basics of Donor Advised Funds and how an individual can designate support specifically to the Iowa Chapter. 

The flyer Giving through an IRA covers how to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (aka QCD) and how it can be directed to the Iowa Chapter. 

The flyer Plan Today Protect Tomorrow covers the basics of planned giving, including bequest language to make a gift to the Iowa Chapter. 

If you need assistance, contact Julia Curtis at 800-932-4270, giftplanning@sierraclub.org .